Search Results (5)

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in detectors capable of detecting single photons in the near-infrared (NIR), mainly due to the emergence of new applications such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) for, e.g., autonomous driving. A silicon single-photon avalanche diode is surely one of the most interesting and available technologies, although it yields a low efficiency due to the low absorption coefficient of Si in the NIR. Here, we aim at overcoming this limitation through the integration of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) -compatible nanostructures on silicon photodetectors. Specifically, we utilize silver grating arrays supporting surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) to superficially confine the incoming NIR photons and therefore to increase the probability of photons generating an electron-hole pair. First, the plasmonic silver array is geometrically designed using time domain simulation software to achieve maximum detector performance at 950 nm. Then, a plasmonic silver array characterized by a pitch of 535 nm, a dot width of 428 nm, and a metal thickness of 110 nm is integrated by means of the focused ion beam technique on the detector. Finally, the integrated detector is electro-optically characterized, demonstrating a QE of 13% at 950 nm, 2.2 times higher than the reference. This result suggests the realization of a silicon device capable of detecting single NIR photons, at a low cost and with compatibility with standard CMOS technology platforms. Full article

The strategic relevance of innovation and scientific research has amplified the attention towards the definition of quality in research practice. However, despite the proliferation of evaluation metrics and procedures, there is a need to go beyond bibliometric approaches and to identify, more explicitly, what constitutes good research and which are its driving factors or determinants. This article reviews specialized research policy, science policy and scientometrics literature to extract critical dimensions associated with research quality as presented in a vast although fragmented theory background. A literature-derived framework of research quality attributes is, thus, obtained, which is subject to an expert feedback process, involving scholars and practitioners in the fields of research policy and evaluation. The results are represented by a structured taxonomy of 66 quality attributes providing a systemic definition of research quality. The attributes are aggregated into a three-dimensional framework encompassing research design (ex ante), research process (in-process) and research impact (ex post) perspectives. The main value of the study is to propose a literature-derived and comprehensive inventory of quality attributes and perspectives of evaluation. The findings can support further theoretical developments and research policy discussions on the ultimate drivers of quality and impact of scientific research. The framework can be also useful to design new exercises or procedures of research evaluation based on a multidimensional view of quality. Full article

The possibility of integrating plasmonic nanostructures directly on an active device, such as a silicon photodetector, is a challenging task of interest in many applications. Among the available nanofabrication techniques to realize plasmonic nanostructures, Focused Ion Beam (FIB) is surely the most promising, even if it is characterized by certain limitations, such as ion implantation in the substrate. In this work, we demonstrate the direct integration of plasmonic nanostructures directly on an active Si-photodetector by patterning a silver film with FIB. To avoid ion implantation and to therefore guarantee unaltered device behavior, both the patterning parameters and the geometry of the nanostructures were implemented by Montecarlo and Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease showing significant variability in clinical aggressiveness. Primary and acquired resistance limits the efficacy of available treatments, and identification of effective drug combinations is needed to further improve patients’ outcomes. We previously found that the NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor pevonedistat induced tumor stabilization in preclinical models of poorly differentiated, clinically aggressive CRC resistant to available therapies. To identify drugs that can be effectively combined with pevonedistat, we performed a “drop-out” loss-of-function synthetic lethality screening with an shRNA library covering 200 drug-target genes in four different CRC cell lines. Multiple screening hits were found to be involved in the EGFR signaling pathway, suggesting that, rather than inhibition of a specific gene, interference with the EGFR pathway at any level could be effectively leveraged for combination therapies based on pevonedistat. Exploiting both BRAF-mutant and RAS/RAF wild-type CRC models, we validated the therapeutic relevance of our findings by showing that combined blockade of NEDD8 and EGFR pathways led to increased growth arrest and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Pathway modulation analysis showed that compensatory feedback loops induced by single treatments were blunted by the combinations. These results unveil possible therapeutic opportunities in specific CRC clinical settings. Full article

In order to inscribe a site in the World Heritage list, the property should have outstanding universal values, defined as “cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity.[...] Full article